2. Obama nominates Gary Blankinship to be U.S. Marshal in Houston- again Blankinship, the former president of the Houston Police Officers’ Union, was one of four U.S. marshals formally nominated by President Obama. Rick Dunham reports >>

3. Obama administration reverses course, approves ‘major disaster’ declaration for West President Obama originally rejected Gov. Rick Perry’s request for aid in West, but later declared that “a major disaster exists in the State of Texas and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by an explosion during the period of April 17-20, 2013.” Hannah Jeffery reports >>

4. Top Texas GOP donors urge congressional leaders to pass immigration reform this year Five of Texas’s top Republican donors penned a letter to members of Congress urging for a year-end deadline for comprehensive immigration reform. Nicole Narea reports >>

5. eBay politics: Would you pay $4,500 for a 6-foot Rick Perry chia pet? $399 for A Ron Paul bobblehead? Politicians’ faces are showing up everywhere from campaign buttons to plant stands, and with elections in mind, it’s not surprising that the merchandise is a hot commodity. Hannah Jeffery reports >>

6. Rep. Steve Stockman: House Democrats ‘openly interfering’ with Benghazi investigation and ‘intimidating witnesses’ Rep. Stockman formally announced the largest petition ever presented to Congress to urge members of the House to consider a bill that would establish a Select Committee to fully investigate the terrorist attack at Benghazi. Lexi Smith reports >>

7. Political Cartoons of the Week: Does Greg Abbott = Rick Perry? The political cartoons of the week July 19-July 26 take a look at the royal baby hype, ask whether or not Greg Abbot is “about the same” as Gov. Perry, and analyze Anthony Weiner’s misbehavior. Lexi Smith reports >>

8. Texas Twitter Tussle: Dan Patrick vs. Jerry Patterson Every week, Texas on the Potomac compares the social media efforts of two prominent Texas political figures. Today, we look at the efforts of two of the Republican contenders for lieutenant governor, Sen. Dan Patrick and Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson. Rick Dunham reports >>

9. Report: Sheila Jackson Lee is ‘worst boss’ on Capitol Hill Jackson Lee went through more staff more quickly than any other member of the Texas congressional delegation in 2011. Now, a new study found that the Texas Democrat had the highest turnover rate for all of Congress over the past decade. Rick Dunham reports >>

10. TexMessage: Ted Cruz wins GOP presidential straw poll at conservative conference in Denver Sen. Cruz earned multiple standing ovations at the Western Conservative Summit when he called for an end to the embattled IRS and urged lawmakers to defund Obamacare. Sarah Ferris reports >>